Gurdwara blood drive sees dozens come forward

The blood donation drive was held at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton.

A Sikh gurdwara held a blood donor drive with dozens of people expressing an interest in donating.

About 200 people discussed becoming a donor at an event at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton on Sunday. Twelve registered as new donors, with five of those making donation appointments.

There is a critical shortage of donor blood from ethnic minorities in the UK.

NHS statistics show fewer than 5% of blood donors last year were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, despite representing around 14% of the population.

University of Bedfordshire's Prof Gurch Randhawa helped organise Sunday's donor drive

Gurch Randhawa is a professor of diversity in public health and also a sewadar (volunteer) at the gurdwara who helped organise the event.

"Our University of Bedfordshire research focuses on understanding why there are lower rates of organ and blood donation amongst minority ethnic communities in this country," he said.

"A lot of that work shows there are low levels of awareness and a lack of trust in blood and organ donation.

"[At this event] we had the Sikh priests explaining to the congregation why blood donation is important and how it aligns with the Sikh concept of selfless service. It was fantastic. We had over 2,000 people at the gurdwara and a couple of hundred came downstairs to find out about becoming a potential blood donor."

Hundreds attended the "Know Your Blood Type" event on Sunday

Mary Adeturinmo, an assistant at the event, said it was all about "trying to recruit new blood donors to help our donor base".

"We're hoping to diversify and help save the lives of patients and countless patients in hospitals," she said.

One blood donation can save up to three lives.

A number of blood conditions, like sickle cell and thalassaemia most commonly affect people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The best match typically comes from blood donors from the same ethnic background.

NHS Blood and Transplant helped organise the event which was only the second of its kind ever held at a place of worship in Luton. The health authority urged more places of worship in the region who were interested in hosting similar events to contact them.

Mark Chambers, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "The NHS needs more Black and Asian donors to come forward to help patients who need blood from someone of a similar ethnicity.

"Giving blood is quick and easy. Our Luton Donor Centre has around 1,200 appointments available over the next six weeks."